What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cromwell has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

Douglas has the most expensive homes ($471k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cromwell	Douglas
People
Population	14,334Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.5Lowest 12% above U.S.	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Douglas and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Cromwell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,596±$10kLowest 37% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,200±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$154Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Cromwell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,137Lowest 97% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cromwell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 149 in CT	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Cromwell School District	Douglas
High school in town	Cromwell High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.